Dreamy Mississippi Chicken with Cream Cheese
This slow cooker recipe creates incredibly tender, fall-apart shredded chicken enveloped in a thick, creamy white sauce. The magical combination of tangy pepperoncini, savory ranch seasoning, and rich cream cheese results in an effortless yet spectacular comfort food meal.
Equipment
- Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
- Two forks (for shredding)
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup pepperoncini peppers, whole or sliced
- ¼ cup pepperoncini juice, from the jar
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the entire packet of ranch seasoning and the au jus mix evenly over the chicken.
- Place the whole stick of butter on top of the seasoned chicken. Scatter the pepperoncini peppers around the butter and pour the pepperoncini juice over everything.
- Scatter the cubes of cream cheese over the top of the other ingredients.
- Secure the lid and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. The chicken should fall apart easily.
- Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly until the melted cream cheese, butter, and juices combine into a thick, creamy sauce that coats the chicken.
- Let the chicken rest on the 'keep warm' setting for 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly before serving.
Notes
For the best results, use full-fat cream cheese and real butter to prevent the sauce from becoming thin or grainy. Letting the cream cheese sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking helps it melt smoothly. For variations, try using boneless chicken thighs, adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for more heat, or stirring in cooked, crumbled bacon at the end for a salty crunch. This chicken is delicious served over mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or on toasted buns for sandwiches. For a low-carb meal, serve in lettuce wraps or with cauliflower rice.